Addressing-machine.



' .H. C. GAMMETER. ADDRESSING MACHINE. APPLIQATION FILED ran. 25, 1909.

1,052,235. Patented Feb. 4, 1913.

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H. G. GAMMETER. ADDBES SING MAUHIZNE. APPLIOATION rum) men. 25, ma

Patented Feb. 4, 1913.

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- H. G. GAMMETER.

ADDRESSING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25, 1909.

1,052,235, Patented Feb. 4, 1913.

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HARRY C. GAMMETER, OF BRATENAHL, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN MULTI-GRAPH COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

, ADDRESSING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 4, 1913.

Application filed February 25, 1909. Serial 170. 479,900.

T 0 all whom it may concern: I

' Be it known that I, HARRY C. GAMMETER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bratenahl, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, haveinvented a certain new and useful Im rovement\in Addressing-Machines, ofwhic the followihgsis'a full, clear, and exact description, referencebeing bad to the accompanying drawings.

The object of this invention is to prov de in a very simple andefficient form a printing machine adapted primarily for printing addresses, though the mechanism is adapted for printing other matter.

My invention carries addresses in a plate fed to the printing point,where the printing ma by means of a suitably operate platen, preferablythrough an inking ribbon extending over the type.

The invention includes various features contributing to the efficiencyand simplicity of the machine, wherefore the invention may beconveniently summarized as comprising the combinations of cotiperatingmechanisms hereinafter explained and set out in the claims.

Figure 1 is'a plan of an addressing machine embodying my invention; Fig.2 is a bottom plan of a portion of the same; Fig. 3 is a cross sectionof the machine; Fig. 4 is a cross section at right angles to Fig. 3. Theremaining figures are details.

As shown in the drawings, 10 represents the frame of my machine whichcomprises a top plate and suitable supporting-portions. On the uppersurface of .the top plate are a pair of parallel guiding ribs 11.Between these ribs is adapted to slide the address plate 20. This ispreferably a plate of considerable length carrying a number ofaddresses, the plate shown being broken away thereto by the set screw18. The plate 20 carries the addresses, each address comprising severallines, in the form shown, four lines being glven to each address.Preferably metal type are employed, and these are carried by.

be effected.

the plate by means of the type being grooved in their opposite sides,and the plate being slotted, the walls or edges of the plate beingadjacent to the slot occupying the grooves and forming guides orretainers for the type. The type are designated 21. They may be insertedin the plate by passing their bases through enlargements of the slots 23which carry the lines. After being passed through these openings, thetype are shoved lengthwise into linesinto place and are held by rubberclips 26. Other means, however, of mounting the type lines on the platemay be employed, if desired.

Above the bed and type carrying plate is cates an inking ribbon adaptedto lie over' the type and effect the inking for the im-' presslon. It isunderstood that the paper is placed face downward above the ribbon, andthe platen forces the paper and ribbon against the type. platen alsoresults in the feed of the type carryin plate to present anew address,and in the eed oftheribbon to'present a fresh face.' These features willbe further explained.

The platen proper consists of apiece of rubber or elastlcmaterial heldin a shoe 31, which iszmounted on a head 32 on the main arm 33.- Theshoe is preferably pivoted to the head at 32 and may be swung thereon inone direction or the other. and

held in adjusted position tightly or loosely, as desired, by the setscrews 35, 3.6. The head 32 is provided with a knob 37, which may beconveniently depressed b the hand of the operator. This head is slidablymounted on the cylindrical "forward end 38 of the arm 33. This allowsthe head to be shifted forward and backward for a purpose hereinafterexplained.

The operating arm 33 continues below its pivot 39, as shown at 50.Connected with this arm 50 is a link 51, which connects with a member 54slidably'mounted on studs 53 depending from the frame. tends to draw themember 54 and the link in the direction to lift the platen. The uppersurface of the member 54 is inclined downwardly toward the arm 50, andsurmounting this member isamember 56 which is ca- The movement of the 80A spring 52 pable of an up and down movement on the cline corres ondingto, but in the studs 53, and has on its lower surface an in.-1

' direction the incline on the bloc The result is that when the platenislow ered to effect the printing, the block-56 forced u ward by thewedging action of the m'iiving ock 54. This upwardm'oveme'nt bringstheupper surface of the block 56;

which consists of a series of parallel ribs 57,

directly a ainst the bottom of the plate 20,

between t e successivelines of type. This forms an effective support forthe plate ad jacent to the printing points so that when theiplaten comesdown to its lowest movement to efiect, the impression, the plate is. atthe same time supported on the underside. This block 56 may be given adownward tendenc b suitable s rin 's', the springs bey g u in shown assurroun ingthe studs 53 and being designated 58. The nuts 59 screwing.

'61 on a drum 62 holding "a spiral spring -63,'-the outer end of thespring being secured to the drum, and theiinner end to the sleeve 83 onthe stationary stud 64 oni which the barrel is mounted. The turns ofthis spring are in such direction that when the plate is first insertedfrom the right and shoved to the extreme left, (of Fig. 1

v the rack and pinion rotate the barrel to wind up the spring.Accordingly, as the spring unwinds, the tendency of the spring is tofeed the plate toward the right. The sleeve 83 and its locking jam nut84 adjust the spring. v

As shown in the drawing, the portion of "theuspace devoted to eachaddress, and the for the dog.

size of the pinion are such that half a 1'0- tation of the pinion willbring a new address into position. Rigid on the pinion shaft is a memberprovided with two diametricallyopposite teeth 85. One of those tooth isnormally in engagement with the dog 66, which is pivoted to the frameand allows the pinion only a limited movement after the tooth engagesthe dog, a suitable stop being provided 'on the frame In normalposition, the spring in the barrel holds the dog against this stop, onoof the teeth being against the dog. In this position the engaged toothstands above a space which is directly behind a lug 67 on the wedgemember 56.

When Tithe platen descends to. effect the printing, the wedge member iselevated "and the lug-member 6'1 comes in front of "the tooth 85' andpositively holds the same in position. This same movement of raising thelu g into the path .of the pinion, raises the dog abovethe pathofthe'pinionr As soon as the doghas cleared the-tooth, the dog moves byits own spring 63 backover the top of the tooth. Now, when the platenrises after effecting the printing, andthe wedge-member 56 consequentlydescends,

the stationary lug 67 .on this membermoves downwardlygout of engagementwanna tooth 85, whereupon the inion begins'to rotate,this rotationfeedlng the plate toward the right. At the end of a half rotation,ho'wever,*the 'other'tooth engags the dog 66, and movement is stopped. ythis mechanism. therefore an escapement is provided which with eachcomplete stroke of the platen feeds the plate from one address to thenext .To cause a feeding of \the ribbon on the upstroke of the platen, Irovide the following mechanism: The'rib on 40 is mounted on spools 41,suitablycarried by brackets depending from the topv plate 10.. Theshafts .ofthese spools are formed with bevel pinions 43, either of which.may meshwith corresponding bevels 44 or 45 on a rod46, according to thelongitudinal position of the rod. .The rod is provided with a knob 47and alatch 48 adapted to engage in either of two notches in the rod." Onthe rod is a wide ratchet wheel 49 with which may mesh a pawl 70 carriedon a pivoted arm 71. The rear end of this arm carries a roller 73beneath an incline 7 Slformed on the wedge block 54. The result of thisrises, the returning inclined member 54 de presses the engaged end ofthe arm 71, causing the pawl 70 to feed the ratchet one tooth. Thisfeeding movement accordingly feeds the ribbon a slight distance over theface of the type carrying plate following each printing impression. The"arrangement of the rod 46 with the latch 48 allows the reversal of thedirection; of'ilfieed'whem ever desired, the latch being liftedgand therod being shifted in one dircction' or the other, to change theengagement of the rod,

as will be readily understood.

While the movement of the type carrying plate is automaticfrom left toright (Fig.-

1) to bring a'ncW address into position, it

may be shifted by handin the opposite direction whenever desired,suchmovement rotating thepiniOn-GO and carrying one or more of the teeth 85idly past the dog 66, which springs backward under such engagement. Thisprovision allows the same address to be repeated as often as desired,-

after one impression, and the consequent effect this omission, I provideforthe movement of the platen head 32 on the main lever 33, heretoforereferred to. \Vhen the platen is in one position, for example theposition shown in the drawing, a portion of it lies over the salutationportion of the address so that such salutation is printed. TheSalutation portion, however, does not extend for over half of the lengthof the platen, andlin alinement with the por-- tion of the platen whichcooperates with the salutation is a recess 78, which recess is i adaptedto be brought over the Salutation by the longitudinal movement of theplaten.

Accordingly, assuming that the position shown inthe drawings is theposition for printing the address with the salutation',

an inward movement of the platen on its supportbrings the recess n theplaten over the Salutation,- wherefore it is el mlnated 'from theprinting,-the platen being long enough so that, in any event, it coversthe entire address.

The platen head is limited in itsmovement on the supporting lever. Asuitable spring detent may be provided if desired, to prevent accidentaldisplacement of'the platen. The head is shown as slidable on thecylindrical extension 38, but. prevented from intation thereon by a keyand key-way 79. If it is desired to have a slight play to enable theplaten to adapt itself to the type, this can be accomplished by 'alooscness of the key and key-way.

As has been stated, the paper is placed .f ace downward above the ribbonand type carrying plate. A suitable table or support and guides arepreferably provided forthe paper. This table is shown as a sheet met:plate 90 carried :by the top frame 10, and

provided with an opening 91 adapted to' stand beneath the platen. Itable are guides for the edge and top of Mouptcd on the the sheet. Theseguides may consist simply 'of sheet metal members 93 and 94, havinghorizontal extensions 95 with slots in them, through which pass setscrews 96, adjustably clamping them to the table. These guides are setaccording to the sizcof the sheet of paper, and the position of themet-'- ter thereon, so that the address may be in the desired position,as is well understood.

A machine substantially of the character described is adapted forprinting the addresses in imitation typewritten matter with greatrapidity. The body of the letter having been printed on a press orprinting machine through a ribbon, the address may be supplied by thismachine through a matching ribbon and the blow'impression which thismachine gives will so closely simulate the impression by which the bodywas produced as to cause the matching to be very exact. The paper may beplaced in the machine and the impressions effected with great rapidity,and when all the addresses carried by the plate have been printed, theplate may be removed, and a new plate put in its place with hardlyappreciable delay.

Having thus described my invent-ion, What I claimis:

1. In an addressing machine, the combination of a plate having a seriesof slots, type occupying said slots, a platen to coiiperate grooved typeoccupying said slots and ex-- tending beyond both faces of the plate, aplaten adapted to cooperate with the face of said type, a support forthe plate adapted to engage it between the feet of adjacent lines oftype, and means for moving said support relatively to the plate.

3. In an addressing machine, the combination of a plate having a seriesof. slots, grooved type occupying said slots and 'ex tending beyond bothfaces-of the plate, a platen adapted to cooperate with the face of saidtype, a support for the plate adapted to engage it between the feet; ofadjacent lines of type, means for feeding the plate, and means forchanging the mutual presentation of the support and plate.

4. In an addressing machine, the combinasaid slots and projecting aboveand below the plate, a platen adapted to cooperate with the type, a sup'ort for the plate having aseries of ribs :1 apted to engage it betweenthe adjacent type lines, mechanism for m'ov-' 35 carry a series ofaddresses, a platen, means ing said, support toward and from the plate,mechanism for feeding the plate when the support hasbeen moved from it.

6. In an address printer, the combination of a plate carrying addressescompose lines of'type, a-platen adapted to cooperate therewith, and amovable support for the plate on the opposite-side from the platen, andmechanism for automatically bringing said support into engagement withthe plate between successive lines of type when the platen operates. V

7. The combination of a slotted vplate formed to carry metaltypeprojecting above and below the plate, a transversely movable support forthe plate-between the lines of type, and a platen to coiiperatewith theopposite face of the type.

8. The combination of a slotted .plate formed to carry metal typeprojecting above and below the plate, a movable support for the platebetween the lines of type, and .a platen to coiiperate with the oppositeface of the type, said support being brought against the plate by themovement of the platen toward the plate. I

9. The combination of a plate adapted to carry a series of type-lireaddresses, a platen, means for moving the plate, crosswise of theplaten, and a support for the plate adapted to engage it'betweensuccesslve type lines and periodically moved from it on the. oppositeside of the plate from the platen,

10. The combination of a plate adapted to for movingtl'ie platecrosswise of the platen, and a support for the plate periodically movedfrom it on the opposite side of the plate from the platen, said platebeing slotted and carrying individual type projecting onto oppositesides. and the movable support having ribs adapted to 'stand betweensuccessive lines of type.

11. The combination of a frame, a plate adapted to ride on the uppersurface thereof and carry type addressesin lines, a movable supportbeneath the frame having parallel ri s adapted to engage the platebetween successive lines, a platen above the frame adapted to actdownwardly onthe type, and automatic mechanism for causing the supportto rise and engage the underside of the plate as the platen movesdownwardly thereto.

' 12. The combinationwith a slotted plate formed to carry metal type,means for movlines.

ingsuch plate, a platen to cooperate with the type, and a supportfor theplate on the. opposite side from'the laten and extendof. type andadapted to be moved independently of the plate to engage the platebetween successive 13. The combinationof a thin slotted dof plate, typegrooved on its opposite sides and occupying such slots and extendingonto op posite faces of the plate, a platen to cooperate with the type,and a support movable with reference to the plate and having parallelribs adapted .to engage the plate between successive typelines on theopposite side from the platen.

14. The combination with a frame, an arm pivoted thereto, a platencarried by said arm, a sl'idable inclined block connected with said.arm, a type carrying late, type lines carried thereby, a supportterefor adapted to enga e the plate betweenconsecutive type lines avingan inclined connection with said block.

15. The combination with a frame, an arm pivoted thereto, a platencarried by said arm, a plate carrying type adapted to lie above saidframe, a vertically guided movable supporting block for the platebeneath .said frame, and mechanism to engage said support and move 1tupwardly against the plate,,said mechanism being connected with saidpivoted arm.

16. In an address printer, the combina-' tion .of a plate adapted tocarry'addresse's, including salut-ations, a plat n to coiiperatetherewith, said platen having asolid portion, and also a recess, eitherof which is adapted to cooperate with the salutation.

17. In an address printer, the combination of a plate adapted to carryaddresses, including saluta-tions, a platen to cotiperate therewith,said platen having a solid portion and also a recess, either of which isadapted to cooperate 'wit-lrthe salutation, and means whereby saidplaten may be moved to change from one .to the other.

18. The combination of a plate carrying addresses with Salutations, apivoted arm, a platen carried thereby, said platen bein longitudinallyshiftable on the arm, an having an impressing portion and a recess inalinement, and either adapted to coiip-' 1m erate with the salutation ofthe address.

,19. The combination, with means for carrying type, of a ivoted' platenarm, a head mounted to sli e on said arm, and a platen carrying shoeextending lengthwise 15 of the arm and pivoted to said head.

20. In an address printing machine, the combinationof a base, alongitudinal plate guided in astraight line on the upper surface thereofand carrying a'serie's of parallel 12 addresses, a paper table extendingover the plate and having an opening, a platen above said opening, andcarried by'an arm pivoted arm extending transto said frame, the vversely of the late, and the platen extendthe addressesbeedge of theplate for periodically feeding 13f it consequent upon the actuation ofthe platen, and means for periodically feeding the ribbon, both the feedof the plate and the feed of the ribbon taking place upon the upstrokeof the platen.

21. The combination of a printing device comprising a. frame having aplurality of slots to receive the type and guides between the slots toengage and support the type, said type being supported in the slots andon the guides partly above and partly below the frame, and a movable bedcomprising a plurality'of sections adapted to engage the under side ofthe guides between the lines of type, and means for elevating said bedinto operative engagement with the printing device.

22. An addressing machine comprising a bed adapted to support a printingdevice in printing position, the upper surface of said bed beingprovided with projections adapted to be disposed between the type linesof the printing device to form a support therefor, and means for movingsaid bed into engagement with a printing device.

23. The combination of a plate having parallel type holding edges, typegrooved in its opposite sides and held in lines by means of said edges,a support for the plate on the opposite side from the face of the type,means for periodically moving the support into and out of engagementwith the plate, and a platen cooperating with the type. a

24. The combination of a plate having parallel type holding edges, typegrooved onits opposite sides and held inseparated lines by and betweensaid edges, a support for the plate on the opposite side from the faceof the type, means for periodically moving said support into and out ofengagement with the plate, means for moving the plate edgewise thereofwhen this support is out of engagement with it, and

a platen cooperating with the type.

25. In an addressing machine, the combination of a plate having aplurality of parallel type holding edges, type between adjacent edgesand held thereby in lines a platen cooperating with the face of thetype, a support to cooperate with the plate onthe opposite side from theplaten, and means for moving said support transversely ,of the plate.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

HARRY C. GAMMETER.

Witnesses: ALBERT H. Barns, BRENNAN B. WEST.

